Supreme Leader of Iran

Supreme Leadership Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran
رهبر معظم انقلاب اسلامی ایران  (Persian)
Emblem of Iran
Incumbent
Ali Khamenei

since 4 June 1989
Office of the Supreme Leader
StyleHis Eminence
TypeHead of state
Commander-in-chief
Provisional head of the three branches of the state (the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Executive)
ResidenceJamaran Hussainiya (former)
House of Leadership (present)
SeatTehran
AppointerAssembly of Experts
Term lengthLife tenure[1]
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Iran
PrecursorShah of Iran
Formation5 February 1979 as Revolutionary Leader
3 December 1979 as Supreme Leader
First holderRuhollah Khomeini
Unofficial namesRevolutionary Leader from 5 February 1979 until 3 December 1979
DeputyOffice was not established until 15 July 1985
Grand Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri (15 July 1985 – 25 April 1989)
Office abolished since 25 April 1989
Websitewww.leader.ir

The supreme leader of Iran,[a] also called the supreme leadership authority,[b] is the head of state and the highest political and religious authority of Iran above the president. The armed forces, judiciary, state radio and television, and other key government organizations such as the Guardian Council and Expediency Discernment Council are subject to the supreme leader.[2][3] as supreme leader, Khamenei has issued decrees and made the final decisions on the economy, the environment, foreign policy, education, national planning, and other aspects of governance in Iran.

The office was established by the Constitution of Iran in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's concept of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist,[4] and is a lifetime appointment.[5]

In its history, the Islamic Republic of Iran has had only two supreme leaders: Khomeini, who held the position from 1979 until his death in 1989 and Ali Khamenei, who has held the position for more than 30 years since Khomeini's death.

References

  1. "Iran's possible next Supreme Leader being examined: Rafsanjani". Reuters. 13 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 December 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  2. "Who's in Charge?" by Ervand Abrahamian London Review of Books, 6 November 2008
  3. mshabani (23 October 2017). "Did Khamenei block Rouhani's science minister?". Archived from the original on 24 October 2017.
  4. Article 5, Iranian Constitution
  5. "Iran's possible next Supreme Leader being examined: Rafsanjani". Reuters. 13 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 December 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2016.


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